Thursday, October 30, 2008

{Get the Look} red, white and wood from Domino

We adore the Nordic appeal of the red, white and wood table setting in
the November issue of Domino (above), so we thought we'd give it a whirl with goods from Farmhouse Wares (below).

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Athleta

I'm loving all the winter gear over at ATHLETA. After taking out all my winter clothes last weekend I realize I sure could use a new winter wardorbe.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Treleela Tea for the Soul

The cold and rainy weather has me feeling out of sorts today. There's nothing quite as comforting as a warm cup of tea on a gloomy day. I'm loving our new line of organic whole leaf teas from Treleela. This tea nourishes and warms the soul, which is no surprise since the company's whole mission is a holistic one--starting with nourishing the very soil they use to cultivate their organic plants. They also take great pride in caring for their family of farmers and respecting this planet we all share.

The naturally fragrant whole leaves are produced using only the tender leaves and young buds--the most nutrient rich parts of the tea plant. This means you can be sure every cup is brimming with health and antioxidants.

What I also love is their funky individual infuser, or Pochette (shown at top). Each contains pre-measured whole leaves for a perfect cup of tea. The Pouchette provides a complete and unrestricted infusion, allowing the whole leaves to unfurl, expressing their true nuance and flavor. Best of all, the convenient pouchette eliminates pots, strainers and cleanup. Yup, I like that. Each Treleela tin contains 14 pouchettes.

There are seven great Treleela teas to choose from at Farmhouse Wares. Let us know your favorite.










Friday, October 24, 2008

Potash Hill Farm-A Local Hero


Remember my post about Potash Hill Farm? Well, I dropped by the Potash Hill Farm booth at our town's recent Harvest Fest. The owner, Melanie was selling her incredible goat's milk soap and lotion. As you can see from the picture above, she proudly displays her "Be A Local Hero" sticker on her soaps. Being a "Local Hero" is certainly something to be proud of.

Launched in 1999 in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, The "Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown" campaign from the non-profit organization CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) was created to raise public awareness and support of locally grown farm products. Now the longest running campaign of its kind, "Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown" has become a model for "communities across the continent and world that are seeking to sustain farming by helping consumers find and purchase locally grown products."

CISA's most recent intiatives include a Farm2City program connecting rural farmers with urban consumers and an institutional buying project which increases use of local farm products at area schools and hospitals.

Melanie is one of many farmers in this valley who benefit from the local attention CISA brings. I wanted to spread the good word about Potash Hill Farm soap and lotion, and the inspiring message of CISA to all of you.




Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Sale at Farmhouse Wares

REDISCOVER THE EASY CHARM OF COUNTRY LIVING

TAKE 15% OFF ANY PURCHASE.

JUST ENTER THE CODE "charm" UPON CHECKOUT.

Offer valid now through October 31st.
Discount applies to our Flea Market section as well.
Not valid on previous orders. While supplies last.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Get Your Garden Ready for Sping

Many garden centers are running sales on their perennials right now, so it’s a great time to do some last-minute gardening. One plant that I highly recommend sticking in the ground now is lungwort. This is a spring charmer. If you’re like me, and you can’t wait for some color to start popping in the garden then this is the plant for you. One of the first plants to bloom, lungwort is packed with gorgeous little flowers that range from pink to lavender. The silvery spotted foliage lends interest to the garden for the remainder of the season. It grows vigorously and is very easy to transplant, so one little plant will eventually fill many gardens.

Exposure: Shade to part shade (will tolerate some sun if kept moist)

Height: 12-13 inches (low grower--perfect for borders)

Zone: 4-9

Latin name: Pulmonaria

You can buy one here.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Boston You're My Home

Heading to Boston for some chowdah and some cultchah. Click here to get a little taste. Go Red Sox. See you Monday.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Antiqued Mercury Glass Hurricanes


I spotted our Antiqued Mercury Glass Hurricanes in the November 2008 issue of Country Living. They used the large one as a vase. Gorgeous! So perfect for a holiday setting.




Tuesday, October 14, 2008

All the better to kiss you with

Get ready to care for your lips this winter. We're offering free shipping on our new organic lip balm gift set. All the better to kiss you with includes three certified organic lip balms in vintage tins: Pepperminty, Lavender Vanilla and Chai Mandarin--so yummy and healthy. Offer ends October 19th or while supplies last.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Discover

Just imagine the things you could discover this weekend. See you Tuesday!

Photo from wikipedia.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

I heart this handmade pillow

I love this pillow made by artist Mary Beth. She scours the tag sales and flea markets for vintage materials--hankies, linens, doilies, buttons, you name it. One could say her pillows are made from the fabric of our lives. Certainly, they're recycling at its best.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Halloween Lanterns

My daughter keeps me on my toes trying to come up with Halloween craft projects. I didn't have any new craft materials to play with, but luckily the house always seems well-stocked with construction paper, glitter pens and markers. You can do a lot with just those tools. We added the glitter pipe cleaners as handles to make them look more like lanterns; however, I wouldn't think of lighting a match near these cuties. Try those little battery operated tea lights instead. They work great.

Monday, October 6, 2008

Fit for a Queen

My newest addiction is this Royal Jelly Body Butter by the Savannah Bee Company. I fell in love with their Blackberry Honey Hand Soap, and this cream, with its subtle blackberry scent, complements the soap perfectly.

Savannah Bee Company, makers of luxurious honey products, says, "The most precious product of the hive, Royal Jelly is a 'Cinderella' substance that turns a worker bee into a Queen...and allows her to live 40 times longer than the average bee as a result. Replete with a multitude of vitamins, proteins, lipids and sugars, this amazing natural substance is known for its nourishing and deep moisturizing properties--as well as its ability to promote skin's elasticity and a smooth appearance."

This is one worker bee who enjoys being Queen--not to mention all the benefits my skin has been enjoying. It is beautifully packaged too, which makes it a great gift, fit for a Queen (of course).

Friday, October 3, 2008

spice things up with tsp spices


If you like to cook or bake then you must check out our tsp spices. These organic spices come individually wrapped in teaspoon-sized packages. The benefit behind this clever concept is that herbs and spices stay fresher for longer. Ground spices can lose their potency over time, but tsp spices are perfectly measured and freshly sealed in convenient single use packages for longer-lasting freshness. Each spice tin contains 12 one-teaspoon packets.

The other great thing is tsp spices are organic. The makers, Katie Luber and Sara Engram support organic agriculture because it limits the use of potentially harmful chemicals. Organic crops are better for our health and the health of our kids and their kids and so on. Organic crops are also safer for farm workers to handle and easier on the land. Organic supports sustainable and healthier farming practices. TSP Spices proudly displays their organic certification to assure you that their products are high quality and free of the additives or fillers that are often found in spices.

tsp spices Sweet Basics Collection: contains one tin each of organic allspice, organic anise seed, organic cardamom, organic Korintje cinnamon, organic cloves and organic nutmeg. For baking sweets or blending chai, reach for tsp spices' Sweet Basics. This set offers the perfect combination for all your sweetly spicy needs.

tsp spices Green Basics Collection: contains one tin each of organic basil, organic dill, organic oregano, organic rosemary, organic tarragon and organic thyme.

Featured in this month’s Cottage Living.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

A Fall Garden Favorite

The Limelight Hydrangea is the plant that keeps on giving. In mid summer she explodes with cool greenish white flowers. As the blooms mature they turn creamy white, and they put on quite a show. But the real show is in early autumn. The flowers age to pink and red. When everything else in the garden is pretty much spent, this hydrangea gives you her best performance. The blooms are so reliable every year. She never disappoints me. Another bonus is the flowers make gorgeous bouquets or they can be dried for winter arrangements. She even looks good in the winter--her faded, wheat-colored blooms look pretty against the white snow.

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Height: 6-8' tall and 6-8' wide
Hardy to: -40C
Zone: 3
Latin name: Hydrangea paniculata

You can buy a Limelight Hydrangea here.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

The Good Envelope Party

Have you heard of the Good Envelope Party? Thanks to my daily dose of Daily Candy, I'm now loop. Clever and caring, The Good Envelope Party is a bi-monthly women's collective in Silver Lake, California. They make handmade recycled stationery from salvaged books and magazines, with love, for the good of others and the earth. These unique envelopes and recycled card inserts are voluntarily made for the purpose of donating their profits. Proceeds are directly donated to non-profit organizations, underfunded schools, and local families struggling to fulfill their basic needs. You go girls!